real worry or faking?

Question

My 8 year old daughter insists on having the light on at night, she says she is scared of the dark and of monsters, part of me belives her but part of me thinks she is just saying that so she can have the light on to play, are kids her age still afraid of those things?

I don't watch any scary movies and neither does she.

I have tried using a night light but she says it is not bright enough.

Answer 1

If she stays up to play I'm sure she'll show it in the morning with her sluggish behavior.

I must say, though embarrassing, at the age of 22 I still own a night light.

She doesn't have to watch scary movies in order to fear the dark. My Mom didn't allow that when I was younger but it still didn't stop my classmates, in first grade, of sharing the story of "Blood Mary" which scares me to death still.

Answer 2

if she wants to sleep with the light on let her...It has nothing to do with scary movies...it's all about security. She has it set in her mind that the light on is providing her with some kind of security. For what reason, we don't know. I was plagued by nightmares as a child and i just knew that the house i lived in was haunted, so yeah, I was scared of the dark. I didn't watch scary movies either. I also suffered from some kind of obsessive thing that told me if my feet were not under the covers when I shut out the light the devil was going to get them. Now, where I came up with that weird rationale, I'll never know, but that's a child for ya. I'm telling you though, it's all about security. The more secure a child feels, the less likely she needs things like the light on to feel it. All kids are scared of monsters...it's quite normal. I was a teenager and still scared of the dark.

When my son was 7 years old i went through the same thing with him....he wouldn't even sleep in his own bedroom at the time. So I got a can of fragrant aerosol and told him that this was the "monster spray." We sprayed it in the room before bedtime and it kept the monsters away. He bought it and before you knew it, he was sleeping alone in his own bedroom. If you don't want her to keep the light on at night, try something else to curtail her fears....give her the nightlight and tell her that you're going to help her say a prayer every night that will ensure no monsters penetrate her bedroom.

I hope this helps and good luck...she'll outgrow it!!!

Answer 3

My son is 8 and still likes to have some light. He has a very dim night light in his room so I usually leave the hall light on for a little while. Do you know that your daughter is getting up and playing? If so, tell her you'll leave the light on for 10 or 15 minutes but if she gets out of bed then you'll turn it off immediately. You might try a lamp with a 25 watt light bulb. It would be brighter than a night light but not as bright as an overhead light.

Answer 4

Yes, this is common for children this age. Actually fear of the dark usually only starts around ages 6-8 and OFTEN clears up in a year or two.

My parents gave me a night light due to HIGH nightmare volume on my part - it was HORRID! The darn thing was what, a foot off the floor, barely bright and case weird foot lighting shadows! It made it worse! No no no, I would suggest something UP off the floor and soft but brighter than a night light. How about a string of indoor mini-lights? A lamp with 25 w - 30 w bulb but up on a dresser... think creative!

Answer 5

If she can not be satisfied with a night light that is bright enough to keep the 'monsters' at bay, she is probably playing you.
Tell her you will leave the big light on for 15 minutes then come check on her. If she is asleep, the big light stays on....if she is still up playing, it goes off.
Leave the small night light on all the time.
Or you could put a very low watt bulb in her overhead light fixture and see how that works.
If she falls asleep in 15 minutes, its probably a good compromise.

Answer 6

Yes kids this age are scared of the dark. Infact i have read that it is completely normal at this stage. Leave a light on for your daughter as there is nothing worse than lying awake all night fearful. Leaving a light on will not change anything for her & her development. I know plenty of adults (including myself) that still cannot sleep without a light on. My 11 yo daughter is still scared of the dark & i have been to professionals about this & attended anti anxiety courses for kids (with my daughter) & apparently it is a very usual complaint for this age group.

Answer 7

I have a 9 yr. daughter who sleeps with the closet light on. She is also scared of the dark. Some are still scared, I think they will out grow this in time.

Answer 8

as quickly as I lived on the mountain there became a foul hurricane and the only street plowed in or out of the place I lived became an prolonged way around and intensely risky because it became utilized with the help of log autos going hell bent for leather-based. i began out up the pass and there have been 3 lifeless gorey elk mendacity beside the line, as I climbed greater I regarded over on the suitable of a snow coated ridge that had no get admission to roads and that i observed something status there with palms prolonged out and type of swaying. i could no longer end at that factor -- went up slightly further and subsidized up -- it became long previous. No thought what it became even if it became spooky! ;0)

Answer 9

tell her that such things are not real-using 8 year old vocabulary and let her know that scary movies are just make-up and costumes.......i'd say "nightlight or no light- what do you choose?".....gives her some control while letting you put your foot down...it takes 4 weeks to break a habit....good luck.

Answer 10

Many children feel afraid of the dark. A toddler or preschooler tends to be afraid of unfamiliar things that they don’t understand or can’t control. Their active imaginations, and their inability to always distinguish between reality and fantasy, means they may believe that monsters are under the bed or in the wardrobe waiting to spring once the light goes out.

If not addressed, a child’s fear may linger and continue to disrupt their bedtime routine and sleeping habits. There are many ways that parents can help their child to overcome a fear of the dark.

The fearful child
Some children are more fearful than others. Some of the contributing factors may include:

Genetic susceptibility – some children are generally more sensitive and emotional in their temperament.
At least one anxious parent – children learn how to behave from watching their parents.
Overprotective parenting – a dependent child is more likely to feel helpless and this can lead to generalised anxiety.
Stressful events – such as parental separation, an injury or hospital stay.
Be sensitive
It is important to handle a child’s fear of the dark with sympathy and understanding. If you aren’t afraid of the dark, you may find yourself ridiculing or dismissing your child’s feelings, or even becoming frustrated and angry. This approach may increase their anxiety levels. The first step to help your child to overcome their irrational fear is to accept their feelings as real and respond to them sensitively.

Talk to your child
Suggestions include:
Ask them to tell you about their fears and what exactly makes them afraid.
Show your child that you understand their fears, but don’t necessarily share them.
Reassure them that they are safe; explain there are no such things as monsters.
Don’t try to reassure your child by checking in the cupboard or under the bed as this may suggest to the child that you believe monsters could be there.
If your child is afraid of the dark because of the possibility of intruders, it may help to show them the security measures around the house, such as locks. However never lock a deadlock while people are inside the house, as it may block escape in a fire or other emergency.
Ask your child for suggestions on what would make them feel more secure. Offer suggestions yourself. Perhaps they would feel better if they took special toys or comforters to bed.
Other fears
Find out if their fear comes from other worries. For example, some children may be afraid of their parents separating or dying, and this heightened anxiety is worsened when they are alone in the dark. Talk to your child honestly about such issues.

General suggestions
Practical ways to deal with your child’s fear of the dark include:
Establish a bedtime routine that your child finds relaxing and enjoyable. Predictable bedtime routines help to reduce anxiety.
Install a nightlight in your child’s room, or let some light from the hallway or other nearby source filter into their room.
A child’s fear tends to lessen if they feel they have some control over a situation. For example, consider putting a lamp by their bedside so they can switch on the light themselves. Use a low wattage bulb.
Make sure their television viewing habits and reading materials are appropriate to their age. A child can easily be frightened by news footage, movies or scary books.
Look around their room at night and try to see things from their perspective. Is there a picture or toy that may cast a shadow or look creepy in the half-light?
Regular exercise helps to reduce stress levels. Make sure your child has plenty of physical activity during the day.
Don’t make a big deal or fuss about your child’s fear in front of them or other people, in case they feel more anxious about it.
Don’t make fun of or belittle their fear.
There are a range of books on managing childhood fears, both for the parents and the child.
Reinforce positive behaviour
Allow your child to make small steps towards overcoming their fear and compliment them on each achievement. Whenever they accomplish a step, such as not jumping out of bed the minute you tuck them in, reward them. Toddlers respond well to simple reward systems, such as stickers or stamps on a wall chart.

Further help
If your child’s fear of the dark continues or worsens, or if other things or events start to trigger bouts of anxiety, you may like to seek professional help. Children can be taught how to manage their own anxiety, and parents can learn helping strategies.